Mikael Phillips, Opposition Spokesman on Transport, criticized the Ministry of Transport for failing to implement a national plan addressing parking issues in urban areas like Papine Square. He emphasized the related congestion problems due to insufficient facilities for taxi operators. Phillips proposed immediate measures and highlighted the need for improved management and collaboration with local authorities to resolve these challenges.
Mikael Phillips, the Opposition Spokesman on Transport, has criticized the Ministry of Transport and the Transport Authority for their failure to develop a national strategy to address parking issues in town centers across Jamaica. This neglect has resulted in significant congestion, particularly at locations such as Papine Square in St Andrew, where both taxi operators and commuters face challenges due to insufficient parking facilities. During a recent tour of Papine Square, Phillips expressed grave concerns regarding the ongoing traffic demands and the absence of designated parking spaces for taxi operators.
Phillips articulated that parking challenges are a primary contributor to overall congestion in urban areas. He pointed out that while taxi licenses continue to be issued, there has been no organized initiative to designate specific parking areas for these operators. Additionally, he raised questions about the government’s overarching transportation strategy, highlighting issues with the integration of various transport modes, particularly with the expansion of Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) routes into rural regions. Without proper parking facilities, Phillips remarked that effective operational deployment of JUTC services is hindered.
To mitigate the traffic conditions in Papine, Phillips proposed immediate actions, including:
– Utilizing the lay-by located behind the JUTC bus stop for taxi operators to facilitate passenger pick-ups and drop-offs.
– Improving management of the Market Road area to better utilize space for vendors and transport operators alike.
While he acknowledged that sustainable solutions would necessitate collaboration with municipal authorities and the National Works Agency (NWA), Phillips underscored the urgency for immediate action regarding parking solutions. He further criticized the Transport Authority and law enforcement for penalizing operators who, due to a lack of designated parking, must park illegally. “The Transport Authority would not have provided enough parking, but yet still, between the Transport Authority and the police, operators are being ticketed for parking on the streets,” he emphasized.
Phillips concluded with a commitment from the People’s National Party (PNP) to engage transportation stakeholders in devising practical solutions for the future should they return to governance.
Mikael Phillips’s statements underscore the pressing need for a coherent national plan regarding parking issues in Jamaican town centers. His suggestions for immediate measures aim to alleviate congestion while highlighting the inadequacies in the current transportation strategy. The criticism directed at the Transport Authority and police illuminates the challenges faced by operators when forced to park illegally. Overall, collaboration and strategic planning appear essential for the development of sustainable transportation solutions in Jamaica.
Original Source: www.jamaicaobserver.com
